Why blockbuster Conor Benn deal that has rocked boxing world is a gamble for Zuffa

These are tumultuous times in boxing and Conor Benn is at the centre of seismic moves reshaping the sport.

His reported eight-figure, one-fight deal with new promotion company Zuffa shatters all financial models, especially when you consider he has yet to win a world title.

The business case for Benn was made to a degree against Chris Eubank, two fights that generated a lot of money and boosted his reputation and profile. However, you would struggle to match those wins against a weight-drained opponent with the rewards on offer in a deal that has rocked the sport and caused a rift with his former promoter Eddie Hearn at Matchroom.

As many do, I feel for Hearn. Boxing is a hard business. You can understand how he feels after supporting Benn during the controversies surrounding his two failed drug tests, and providing the platform and backing for him to relaunch his career.

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The money is coming from Saudi Arabia, of course, in the shape of Turki Alalsheikh, the joint owner of Zuffa and chairman of the Saudi government department, the General Entertainment Authority.

Zuffa have immediately pitched Benn against Regais Prograis on the Tyson Fury card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April. The fight is at a catchweight 150 pounds, three pounds above the welterweight limit he is targeting for a world title shot. The division is full of sparkle. Ryan Garcia, who beat Mario Barrios for the WBC crown last week, is Benn’s big target. Devin Haney has re-established himself as another box-office option.

Prograis is not in their class. Josh Taylor beat him up at super lightweight when he was in his prime. At 37, he has not been paired with Benn to win.

Prograis will stand and fight, and Benn will get him out of there, so it will look good. But the evidence that he can go higher has yet to be established. That said, there is every chance he can win a title but it’s still a hell of a gamble by Zuffa.

Benn is certainly an exciting fighter. He believes in himself absolutely and leaves it all on the pitch. But that does not make him a world champion.

Perhaps that doesn’t matter in an age when Anthony Joshua can make record money fighting Jake Paul. Zuffa will have seen that and are banking on Benn’s capacity to drive eyeballs and thus dollars.

And if they can put Benn in a ring with a Garcia or a Haney then there will be few complaints from boxing fans.